Treating acid and fire burns should be done with utmost care to minimize pain, prevent infection, and promote proper healing. Here are traditional ways to treat acid and fire burns. However, it’s important to note that immediate medical attention is crucial in severe burn cases. These remedies can be used for minor burns while waiting for medical help:
For Acid Burns: Burns caused by acid, alkaline, or caustic chemicals can be very damaging and need immediate medical attention
Immediately flush the affected area with cool, running water for at least 20 minutes. Continue flushing even if it’s painful. This helps to remove the acid and cool the burn.
Remove Contaminated Clothing and Chemical in case of acid and fire burns:
Try to remove the chemical and contaminated clothing from contact with the skin and eyes. Be very careful not to touch or spread the chemical as this could lead to further injuries to the victim or the person helping them.
Use gloves or other protective materials to cover hands and, if possible, carefully cut away clothing such as t-shirts, rather than pulling them off over the head. Do not wipe the skin as this may spread contamination. If the chemical is dry, brush it off the skin.
Rinse Continuously With Clear Water:
Rinse the affected area continuously with clean water as soon as possible to remove any residual chemicals. Try to make sure the water can run off of the affected area without pooling on the skin and potentially spreading the chemical to a wider area. Only use water. Do not rub or wipe the area.
Use a Neutralizing Solution In Case of Acid and Fire Burns:
Some sources recommend using a dilute baking soda solution (1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 liter of water) to neutralize acid burns. However, this should be done with caution, as it may not be suitable for all types of acids. Consult with a medical professional before attempting this.
Cover with a Clean Cloth: After rinsing, cover the burn with a clean, non-stick cloth or bandage to protect it from infection.
Avoid Home Remedies in cases of acid and fire burns: Avoid applying any home remedies such as toothpaste or butter to acid burns, as these can worsen the injury.
Hospital Treatment: Immediate treatment for chemical burns in hospital includes:
- continuing to wash off the corrosive substance with water until it’s completely removed
- cleaning the burn and covering it with an appropriate dressing
- pain relief
- a tetanus jab if necessary
Recovering from Acid and Fire Burns.
- Minor Burns: Minor burns affecting the outer layer of skin and some of the underlying layer of tissue normally heal with good ongoing burn care, leaving minimal scarring.
- Your dressing will need to be checked and changed regularly until the burn has completely healed to help prevent infection
- Severe Burns: If the burn is severe, you may be referred to a specialist burns unit, which may be in a different hospital. You may stay in the hospital for several days.
- You may need surgery to remove the burnt area of the skin and replace it with a section of skin (a graft) taken from another part of your body.
- More severe and deeper burns can take months or even years to fully heal and usually leave some visible scarring. In some cases, the depth and location of the burn may also lead to problems such as sight loss or restricted use of limbs or muscles.
- Specialist Support: Specialist burns teams include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and mental health professionals who can support your recovery. For chemical burns affecting the eyes, you’re also likely to be urgently assessed by an eye specialist to help minimize the risk of lasting vision loss.
- If you’ve been the victim of an attack and continue to feel upset, anxious, or afraid several days after the incident, you can ask to be referred to the hospital’s mental health liaison team for support and treatment. Anyone with an existing mental health problem who has suffered an attack should also be referred to this team.
- Burns support groups also provide practical and emotional support to victims and their families. Your care team should be able to signpost you to local groups, and the following national organizations can also help.
For Fire Burns: (Acid and Fire Burns)
A burn occurs when heat, chemicals, sunlight, electricity, or radiation damage skin tissue. Most burns happen accidentally. There are different degrees of burns. Your healthcare provider determines the seriousness (degree) of a burn based on the depth of the burn and the amount of affected skin. Burns can be painful. Left untreated, a burn can lead to infection.
Types of Burns: Healthcare providers classify burns by degrees of severity. Your provider will evaluate the extent of skin damage. Burn degrees include
- First-Degree Burns: Are mild (like most sunburns). The top layer of skin (epidermis) turns red and is painful but doesn’t typically blister.
Cool the Burn:
- Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water or immerse it in cool water until the pain subsides.
- If running water isn’t available, use cool compresses
Protect the Burn:
- Cover the burn with a sterile, non-adhesive bandage or a clean cloth.
- Avoid applying butter, oil, lotions, or creams, especially if they contain fragrances.
- Instead, apply a petroleum-based ointment two to three times a day.
Manage Pain For Acid and Fire Burns:
- Provide over-the-counter pain relief medication such as acetaminophen (e.g., Panadol, Tylenol), ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), or naproxen (e.g., Aleve, Naprosyn) as directed on the label.
- Second-degree burns: Affect the skin’s top and lower layers (dermis). You may experience pain, redness, swelling, and blistering. Treatment for second-degree burns closely resembles that for first-degree burns. In some cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe a more potent antibiotic cream containing silver, such as silver sulfadiazine, which is effective at eliminating bacteria. Elevating the burned area can help alleviate pain and reduce swelling.
- Third-Degree Burns: Affect all three skin layers: epidermis, dermis, and fat. The burn also destroys hair follicles and sweat glands. Because third-degree burns damage nerve endings, you probably won’t feel pain in the area of the burn itself, but rather adjacent to it. Burned skin may be black, white, or red with a leathery appearance.
Third-degree burns are extremely serious and can pose life-threatening risks, often necessitating the use of skin grafts. Skin grafts involve replacing the damaged tissues with healthy skin harvested from an unaffected area of the person’s body.
Generally, the area where the skin graft is obtained will naturally heal over time. In instances where there is insufficient available skin for grafting during the initial injury, a temporary graft source may be obtained from a deceased donor or an artificial source. However, these temporary grafts will eventually need to be replaced with the person’s skin.
Treatment of third-degree burns also includes administering additional fluids, typically through intravenous (IV) delivery, to maintain stable blood pressure and prevent shock and dehydration.
Immediate Treatment Steps For Acid and Fire Burns
Cool with Cold Water:
- Immediately place the burnt area under cool, running water for at least 10-20 minutes. Continue cooling the burn to reduce heat and pain.
- Cool any smoldering clothing immediately by soaking it in water, then remove any clothing from the burned area unless it is stuck firmly to the skin. In that case, cut away as much clothing as possible.
- If the injured area is not oozing, cover the burn with a sterile gauze pad or a clean, dry cloth.
- If the burn is oozing, cover it lightly with sterile gauze if available and immediately seek medical attention. If sterile gauze is not available, cover burns with a clean sheet or towel.
Remove Jewelry: If the burn is in an area with jewelry, remove it promptly, as burns can cause swelling.
Loosely Cover with a Clean Cloth For Acid and Fire Burns:
Cover the burn with a clean, sterile, non-stick cloth or bandage to protect it from infection.
Avoid Ice: Do not use ice or very cold water, as it can further damage the burned tissue.
Pain Relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help alleviate pain, but consult with a healthcare professional before use.
Seek Medical Attention: Even for minor fire burns, it’s advisable to seek medical attention to assess the severity of the burn and determine if additional treatment or dressing changes are needed.
Avoid Home Remedies: Avoid using home remedies such as toothpaste or oils on fire burns, as these can trap heat and worsen the injury.
In both acid and fire burn cases, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional or visit a medical facility for a proper evaluation and treatment plan, especially for severe burns. Severe burns require specialized medical care to prevent complications and promote optimal healing.